Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Bead Landing by Michaels

Today's Silver Price: $32.19/t.oz.

I was in Michaels last night picking up some scrapbooking paper for a project I'm working on, and I of course wandered into the jewelry isle. I noticed that a lot of the beads and components were on sale, except for a certain brand called Bead Landing. I had never before seen this brand, although I haven't investigated the jewelry isle at Michaels in quite some time.

Apparently Bead Landing is owned by Michaels, as noted on the back of the packages. There was actually some cool stuff that I almost bought. Almost. I'll get to that in a minute. They had a large selection of chain, as well as lots of metal components, some jump rings, earwires and head pins. They also had a large section of pendants which were a little to shabby for me. I guess they are going for the shabby-chic thing, with lots of antiqued metals and large oversized pendants. Anyway, what I suspect was happening at Michaels was they had the other brands of beads and jewelry components on sale so they could get rid of it and bring in a larger stock of the new Bead Landing line. How crafty.

I was looking at some rather attractive chain I spotted and was leaning toward purchasing it. I turned the card it was attached to over to find out what type of metal the chain was. I was thoroughly disappointed to find that they did not list the metal type anywhere on the card. I proceeded to inspect other cards and packages only to find that none of them had the actual material listed.

One of the great things about Etsy is that you can list all of the materials you have used in the items you are selling. I always include the type of beads (usually glass), the stringing material and the type of metal components (usually copper or sterling silver) I have used. I want my customers to know exactly what they are getting and what kind of durability they are getting.

This mystery chain from Bead Landing would not allow me to inform my customers of what type of metal they were purchasing. While the chain was decently priced, I did not buy it because I had no idea what it was made out of! Maybe it wasn't even metal... maybe it was plastic made to look like metal! No me gusta!

So for now, I give Bead Landing by Michaels a big thumbs down. It will however be interesting to see how this new line evolves and hopefully expands... and hopefully figures out that they should list the materials on their labels!

17 comments:

i agree...purchased the bead landing "drill". no info on package to indicate what kind of material can be drilled! just bought blindly thinking the back of package would tell me something or that i could find info online...no luck.just a thought...magazines like marie claire have this same issue! i look at them occasionally for inspiration/ideas for future creations. a multi-media necklace will be pictured, the designer may be listed or a manuf. but NEVER the material used. i hate that!thanks for sharing ...

Hello! I just wanted to say that the Michael's that just opened up near where I live does list the metals for bead landing products - not on the packaging usually, but on a white card behind it that lists the item cost and description. Only about 2/3s of these cards say the metal, but there was at least one for every color. The ones I remember off the top of my head were Rhodium (the darker of the two shiny silver colors they use for clasps/jump rings/connectors/earring settings) and Hematite (anything that looks like hematite probably is). I'm posting this partially because this entry is the second link to appear when I searched for "Bead Landing metals used", and I thought it might be helpful information for others as well. If it would be particularly helpful or appreciated, I could go back to Michael's and identify all the metals I can find.

Hello All, I stumbled here while also searching for the Bead Landing metal content. Holly, thanks for the tip about the white cards. I'm going to visit my store to check that out today. I have a suspicion that those descriptions are only for colors though, since rhodium and hematite are minerals (not metals). If it wasn't Sunday, I'd call their customer service to ask!

I think you're right, Raqi - I was really excited about finding the white cards, but looking some things up, I think what they list are plated or color based. However, I bought some "rhodium" and "silver plated" (according to their cards) items from them and have been working with these items. They chip somewhat easily with stainless steel metal tools, and the metal beneath is distinctly copper colored. Since the one metal listed definitively on the item's direct card is "100% copper", I'm increasingly certain that bead landings silver and rhodium plated items are plated copper. I do agree that it's frustrating that Michael's doesn't simply list these things on the item cards.

I, too, was trying to figure out what kind of metal the jump rings I purchased were. Since Michael's makes it too hard to figure out (likely because they want the option of going as cheap as they would like), I'll be returning mine and buying online from a company that will note the metal.

I bought the bead landing jewelry tool kit from Michaels a few months ago, containing a flush cutter, flat, round, and long nosed pliers, bead reamer and tweezers/bead scoop. I use the flush cutter a lot and the blade already has many divets and it has loosened quite a bit so that it's almost totally unusable. Big thumbs down on bead landing. :-(

Thanks for sharing. I bought the flat wire, but found out that I could get it online and I got it for much cheaper. Also it tells you what the metal is. It is aluminum. I did notice however that is will chip when you use metal tolls.

I was making a jumpring (9mm silver color) necklace and ran out of jumprings. I went back today and they have switched to 10mm and I am sooooo upset. I can't finish my necklace and they told me to go online and google bead landing to see if I could get them from someone else. NOT IF IT'S A MICHAEL PRODUCT!

does anyone know how we could bypass bead landing and get the product in bulk at a reduced cost? the purchase of chain i made from michael's says it was made in China. Anyone know how we could get jewelry supply like this in bulk?

Dear Anonymous, I have found that most people who make jewelry as a serious hobby or business purchase their materials online--they don't usually buy at craft stores. Prices vary, and of course there are shipping charges, but you might try Fire Mountain Gems. Wire Sculpture (dot) com, or just peruse the adds in the pages of a jewelry making magazine.

I purchase all my glass pearl, crystal brads & findings on ebay, prices are alot cheaper with free shipping offered from alot of the sellers. Bead landing has nice beads but they are expensive, maybe they should lower their prices. Anyone that doesn't like bidding on ebay for their beads, findings, etc., you can click on the buy it now button & you can purchase your product without bidding. When I don't buy on ebay here are a couple of websites that you can buy your beading supplies cheap: doreensbeads.com shipping is free on any order, no minimum purchase required, I've ordered several times from them, was very happy with their beads & findings. Also, pandahall.com beads are very cheap, shipping is high. The beadery.com their beads are reasonable with normal shipping charges. I like ebay & doreensbeads.com the best. Great deals there.

Beadlanding now has a new package design which clearly labels the metal on the reverse side of the packaging. Great work to everyone who persisted in contacting the company for packaging information. The new design also labels some of their findings as Nickel Free. To my surprise, the eye pins I've been using are not silver plated but Iron. If you would like to view their new package design I have a photo on my blog. ...I guess persistence does pay off and these companies do listen when people voice their opinions.

I recently bought jump rings made by Beadlanding. The package was labelled iron and Nickel Free. I do a lot of Chain maille in jewelry making and I have never seen iron rings before. I now buy wire from Beadalon and/or Artistic Wire and make my own jump rings, then I know what they are made of. April/2014

Anyone looking to buy beads in bulk & at a reasonable price: www.doreensbeads.com free shipping with any order no minimum purchase required. I purchased from this site many times & was happy with their products. Great deals. Try ebay also, alot of sellers offer free shipping. Try www.beadsinbulk.com, cheap beads, shipping charges vary at this site. Fire Mountain gems are reasonable in some beads & findings, shipping charges are reasonable, but you have to look around on their site for good deals, look in bargains, click on that link & that will show you all their discounted beads,etc. My favorite are ebay.com & doreensbeads.com which offers free shipping, which allows you to buy extra beads since you don't have to worry about shipping charges at doreensbeads.com. Some ebay sellers offer free shipping on beads,findings,memory wire,etc.

Michaels stores are a complete joke! They are so ridiculously priced it's an insult to every craft maker, jewelry maker and/or artist out there. Shame on Michaels for ripping us off, buy online! I've seen several items (eg; magnified modge-podge) that is double the price at Michaels compared to Walmart. I hope all the artists out there put Michaels out of business by buying online.